Large-scale military parade waste of money

President Donald Trump attends the annual Bastille Day military parade in Paris in 2017, which gave him the idea to hold a similar event in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump attends the annual Bastille Day military parade in Paris in 2017, which gave him the idea to hold a similar event in Washington, D.C. (JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images File Photo)

President Trump wants to flash the armor and have a military parade like other dictators in our world do, even though there is no need to waste millions of dollars to show off other than to impress his own ego. The Associated Press article in Thursday's paper mentions that this parade shows Trump's respect for the armed forces and his affection for our military.

Is this the same respect and affection he showed when he received five military draft deferments during the Vietnam War, including one medical deferment after he was diagnosed with bone spurs in his foot?

My friend, who graduated with me from Dieruff High School, and I received draft notices, but there was nothing wrong with our feet; we served our country in the military. My buddy was sent for a short tour to Vietnam — a 38-day tour to be exact — and was sent back home in a bag.

For those who gave their all for our country, I will always be grateful. For those who used excuses and loopholes provided by politicians so their friends could avoid that responsibility, I will never respect.